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Saturday,
August 23, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Khel Ratna for
Anjali, Beenamol; Arjuna for 21 Morale booster for Indian hockey Indian hockey:
colts on top England battle to
retain initiative
Lloyd supports Gavaskar on sledging issue |
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Fans pray for Leander Kolkata, August 22 For the second day running, fans of ailing tennis ace Leander Paes offered puja at a Shiva temple in Kalighat for his wellbeing as the metropolis awaited an official word from the Orlando hospital about the local boy’s condition.
Sampras to officially bid goodbye on Monday
Agassi leads US challenge Jonathan
Ewards to retire JCT overwhelm PSEB Storm over lease of club house 37th Haryana Gymnastic Championship opened
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Khel Ratna for Anjali, Beenamol; Arjuna for 21 New Delhi, August 22 The government also named 21 sportspersons for the Arjuna Award 2002, accepting in toto the original recommendations of the Arjuna Awards Committee, which had triggered off a controversy by submitting a list with recommendations in excess of the number stipulated in guidelines. Five sportspersons have been named for the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievent while an equal number were selected for the Dronacharya Award. The government, which had earlier asked the Arjuna Awards Committee to reconvene and prune the list in accordance to government policy, sprung a suprise by announcing all the names submitted in the first list. Taking into account the performance of Indian athletes during last year, the Sports Ministry decided to approve all the names as a “one-time relaxation” of the existing provisions of the schemes. It will be after six years that two sportspersons will share the prestigious Khel Ratna award which will carry a cash award of Rs 5 lakh, a medallion and a scroll of honour. Tennis star Leander Paes and weightlifter Kunjarani Devi had shared the award in 1996-97. Anjali too had a remarkable year during which she became the only woman shooter from the country to have qualified for next year’s Olympics in Athnes. The ace air-rifle shooter won four gold medals at the Manchester Commonwealth Games and a silver in the Busan Asiad and at the Atlanta World Cup. She also won the “Champion of Champions 2002” award. The President will give away the awards at a ceremonial function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Anjali Bhagwat (shooting), K.M. Beenamol (athletics) Arjuna Awards Anju B George (athletics), Alok Kumar (billiards and snooker), Md Ali Qamar (boxing), K. Sasikiran (chess) I.M. Vijayan (football), Shiv Kapur (golf), Gagan Ajit Singh (hockey-men), Ram Mehar Singh (kabaddi), Anwar Sultan (shooting), Suma Shirur (shooting), Montu Ghosh (TT), Ravikant Reddy (volleyball), T Muthu (weightlifting), Palwinder Singh Cheema (wrestling), Nitin Mongia (yachting), Mamta Kharab (hockey-woman), Virender Sehwag (cricket), Saraswati Saha (athletics), Inderpal Singh (rowing), Sujit Mann (wrestling), Ramesh Tikaram (badminton and athletics — handicap category). Dhyanchand Award: Ram Kumar (basketball), Dharma Singh Mann (hockey), Charles Cornelius (hockey), Om Prakash (volleyball), Smita Yadav (rowing). Dronacharya Award: Renu Kohli (athletics), Jaswant Singh (athletics), M.K. Kaushik (hockey), E. Prasad Rao (kabaddi), H.D. Motivala (yachting). Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Guru Nanak Dev Universisty, Amritsar.
— PTI |
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Morale booster for Indian hockey Chandigarh, August 22 Today's victory has come at a juncture when Indian hockey fans were overcome by a sense of despair. The team had gone to the Netherlands with high hopes after back-to-back title wins in Australia and Germany. Touted as one of the favourites, the shocking defeat against Holland in the opener seemed to have upset the Indians' rhythm. Leading comfortably by 3-0 till the 62nd minute , India appeared to be on their way to a historic win over the defending champions but the Dutch blitzkrieg in the last eight minutes when the Indians conceded four goals came as a big shock which took its toll in the subsequent ties against Australia and Argentina. The 3-2 win over the second-string Germany also did not seem to be convincing as the Indians appeared shaky. But the team's performance today obliterated the sense of despair and despondency that had engulfed Indian hockey over the past few days. What really came as welcome relief was the fire and zeal seen in the Indians today, something that appeared to be lacking over the past few days. With a little more luck, India may yet be among among the medallists, something unimaginable till this evening. Good
luck, India |
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Indian hockey:
colts on top New Delhi, August 22 They earned five penalty corners and coverted two, with Sandeep Singh and Vivek Gupta finding the net. Tushar Khandekar scored the third goal for India in the second half. The Indians played a defensive game in the second half as two of their players — Nitin Kumar and Birendra Lakra — were shown yellow cards. The three wins on the trot in this six-nation U-21 round-robin tournament has brightened India’s chances of winning the prestigious event. India had earlier scored a thumping 10-0 win against France and trounced Germany 3-0. India will take on hosts Poland tomorrow while they will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.
— PTI |
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England battle to
retain initiative Leeds, August 22 South Africa, so dominant at the start of the series, eked out 342 in their first innings, thanks mainly to a magnificently obdurate 130 from Gary Kirsten, before England rattled along to 197 for three as bad light cut short the second day. Shrugging off their frustrations — Kirsten had put on 150 with Monde Zondeki to equal South Africa’s record for the eighth wicket — the home team scored at more than four runs an over in an attempt to make up time. Michael Vaughan fell cheaply, a block against Makhaya Ntini spinning back into his leg stump, before Mark Butcher (77) and Marcus Trescothick (59) put on 142 for the second wicket. Both, however, fell shortly before the close. Perhaps unwisely, they had accepted a break for light shortly before. So dominant before the interruption, Trescothick was caught and bowled by Jacques Kallis, who threw himself right to take the chance, just nine balls after the teams returned to the field. Butcher, whose innings was peppered with square cuts and forces, then drove at the same bowler and edged behind, leaving Nasser Hussain and Ed Smith at the crease. South Africa, despite still being stuck at 1-1 in the five-match series after losing the third test on a poor pitch, have got used to setting the agenda, though, not at Headingley. Reduced to 21 for four on the first day after opting to bat, they have been struggling to stay in the game ever since. The key difference has been in their bowling. While England’s remodelled seam attack at Headingley latched onto a disciplined off-stump line, the South Africans bowled wide and short for the first time. Indeed, they looked just like the home team had done in the first two Tests. Without Shaun Pollock’s world-class talents — he has been attending the birth of his first child — the tourists seemed determined to feed Butcher’s favourite cut shot and he feasted on it. Soon captain Graeme Smith had been reduced to posting two fielders at cover point to try and staunch the flow. Dewald Pretorius, Pollock’s stand-in, ended the day conceding 58 runs from nine overs. South Africa (Ist innings): Smith c Stewart b Kirtley 2 Gibbs c Stewart b Bicknell 0 Kirsten c Bicknell b Ali 130 Kallis c Vaughan b Bicknell 6 McKenzie c Stewart b Ali 4 Rudolph lbw b Ali 55 Boucher c Vaughan b Flintoff 16 Hall c Smith b Flintoff 0 Zondeki c Butcher b
Anderson 59 Ntini not out 32 Pretorius c Stewart b Kirtley 9 Extras:
(lb-20 w-2 nb-7) 29 Total: (all out, 114.4 overs) 342 FoW:
1-2, 2-2, 3-16, 4-21, 5-116, 6-142, 7-142, 8-292, 9-316. Bowling:
Kirtley 29.4-10-74-2, Bicknell 27-11-50-2, Kabir Ali 22-3-80-3, Anderson 18-7-63-1, Flintoff 18-5-55-2. England (Ist innings): Trescothick c & b Kallis 59 Vaughan b Ntini 15 Butcher c Boucher b Kallis 77 Hussain not out 14 Smith not out 0 Extras:
32 Total: (3 wkts, 47 overs) 197 FoW: 1-27, 2-169, 3-193. Bowling:
Pretorius 9-0-58-0, Ntini 12-3-34-1, Hall 14-2-50-0, Zondeki 1.5-0-10-0, Kallis 10.1-1-28-2.
— Reuters |
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Bashar leads B’desh fightback Karachi, August 22 Bashar helped Bangladesh to 163 for three after they had bowled Pakistan out for 346 in the morning, having added just 45 runs to their overnight score of 301 for five. Mohammad Rafique and Mashrafe Mortaza ended with three wickets apiece after the home side failed to capitalise on a blistering 170 from Yasir Hameed on his test debut on Thursday. Pakistan captain Rashid Latif was 54 not out as he ran out of partners. The home side had a lead of just 58 runs on Bangladesh’s first innings of 288. Bashar, who scored 71 in the first innings, made Pakistan play dearly for a dropped catch at second slip by Yasir Hameed. He shared partnerships of 54 with Hannan Sarkar (30) and an unbeaten 80 with debutant Rajih Saleh (27) to boost the innings. Earlier, the Bangladesh bowlers stayed disciplined on a slow track and chipped away at the innings for close to two hours in the morning session. Their discipline continued when they came out to bat with 30 minutes remaining before lunch with a fired-up Shoaib Akhtar bowling a series of quick short-pitched deliveries. While Akhtar looked threatening in five spells spanning over 15 overs he managed only one wicket, trapping opener Javed Omer leg before immediately after lunch when Bangladesh were on 11. Sarkar and Baisul then combined for their partnership before Sarkar was leg before to part-time spinner Mohammad Hafeez while attempting an extravagant sweep shot. Scoreboard Bangladesh (1st innings): 288 Pakistan (1st innings) (overnight 301-5) Hafeez c Omar b Mashrafe 2 Umar c Omar b Rafique 38 Hameed c Rafique Mashrafe 170 Inzamam c Saleh b Baisya 0 Youhana c and b Saleh 46 Mishah lbw b Mushrafe 13 Latif not out 54 Akhtar b Rafique 1 Ahmad c Razin b Rafique 6 Kaneria c and b Mahmud 8 Gul run out 0 Extras: (lb-4, nb-4) 8 Total: (all out, 117 overs) 346 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-102, 3-103, 4-234, 5-270, 6-304, 7-307, 8-323, 9-338. Bowling: Mashrafe 19-3-68-3, Baisya 17-6-42-1, Mahmud 17-2-74-1, Rafique 32-9-76-3, Sanwar 9-0-23-0, Kapali 18-3-50-0, Saleh 5-0-9-1. Bangladesh (2nd innings): Hannan Sarkar lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 30 Javed Omar lbw b Shoaib Akhtar 13 Habibul Bashar not out 82 Sanwar Hossain lbw b Shabbir Ahmed 3 Rajin Saleh not out 27 Extras (lb-6 nb-2) 8 Total: (3wickets, 65 overs) 163 Fall of wickets: 1-19 2-73 3-83 Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 15-6-38-1, Umar Gul 9-1-27-0 (nb-1), Danish Kaneria 18-3-50-0 (nb-1), Shabbir Ahmed 11-1-33-1, Mohammad Hafeez 12-7-9-1 — Reuters  |
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Lloyd supports Gavaskar on sledging issue Mumbai, August 22 “I fully support Gavaskar’s views on sledging,” Llyod told PTI here joining the debate triggered off by the speech of former Indian skipper at the Lord’s during the Colin Cowdrey lecture recently. “Gavaskar might have made those comments after watching the West Indies-Australia Test series recently where there were more than a couple of ugly scenes involving the players,” the West Indies great said. “The ICC’s code of conduct has clear rules for sledging and match referees must make it very clear to the rival captains to follow the code strictly or else face the consequences,” said Lloyd, who is here for a promotional campaign of a sports channel. Lloyd said it was the responsibility of the big teams to set an example by their on-field behaviour. “If sledging continues unabated, it might turn ugly in future. For example, if a senior cricketing nation indulges in sledging while playing minnows Bangladesh, then the greenhorns will be demoralised completely and may not perform to their full potential. “Instead of sledging it would be better if players from senior cricketing sides help out young sides like Bangladesh so that they too can become a force to reckon with in future,” Lloyd, who is also an ICC match referee, said. Gavaskar had slammed “verbal bouncers” on the field and without naming Australia, blamed them for bringing the game into disrepute by their personal abuse of rival players. While Gavaskar’s comments were widely backed by players, those also evoked strong protest from the Australians with former speedster Dennis Lillee vehemently denying the charge and current Test skipper Steve Waugh saying the issue was being blown out of proportion. Turning to the state of the West Indies cricket, Lloyd said “I think it is very heartening to note that Brian Lara is in very good form since he took over as the captain. Carl Hooper had infused new life to the West Indies cricket with his gritty batting and imaginative captaincy”. Lloyd said he felt that Hooper should have been included for the series against Australia as his experience would have come handy. “I feel the recent home series against world champions Australians would have been much closer if Hooper would have played. The home team was let down by inexperienced batting during the series. Probably, if Hooper was to play then the West Indies could have done much better,” the most successful West Indian captain said. “However, the youngsters are showing signs of improvement and hopefully the West Indies will once again be a major force in international cricket in the near future,” Lloyd said.
— PTI |
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Fans pray for Leander
Kolkata, August 22 The admirers, many of them in their teens, came from different corners of the city and offered ‘aarti’ at the ‘shivalinga’, pledging to make offerings once Paes pulled through. Holding placards reading “God bless Leander Paes”, “Leander Paes - our best wishes are with you”, the fans looked downcast as they anxiously asked newspersons for the latest update on the tennis hero’s condition. A special prayer session would also be held tomorrow evening at the Calcutta South Club, where Leander took his first nervous steps into tennis. “The club officials, trainees and the entire staff will participate in the session,” said Akhtar Ali, former Davis Cup coach. The 30-year-old tennis star, a leading doubles player of the world, was admitted to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre in Orlando, USA, on Wednesday. Leander’s father, Dr Vece Paes, left for the USA yesterday and is scheduled to reach Orlando this evening. Paes, winner of six Grand Slam doubles titles and former doubles world number one, will be out of action for at least a month. He will miss the US Open and is also doubtful for next month’s Davis Cup world group qualifying match against Holland.
— PTI |
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Sampras to officially bid goodbye on Monday
New York, August 22 The owner of a record 14 Grand Slam singles titles has not played a match since winning the 2002 US Open, though he never officially announced he was quitting the sport. That will change at a news conference on Monday, when Sampras will also be feted at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the opening night of this year’s US Open. In keeping with
Sampras’ mute public style, the news came via an e-mailed statement from his representatives yesterday. “He was just one of the most graceful players of all time, one of the most quietly competitive players of all time, one of the best pressure players of all time,” said Andy
Roddick, who’s seeded fourth at the Open. “The bigger the match was, the better he played. And he didn’t make a big fuss about things. He just made his name by
winning.” Sampras (32) leaves with 64 singles titles, and he was ranked No 1 for a record six years (1993-98). His collection of major titles includes a record-tying seven Wimbledon titles, five US Open and two Australian Open titles. He will forever be associated with the All England Club, where his strong serve, crisp volleys and booming forehand made him nearly unbeatable on grass. In July 2000, Sampras won a fourth straight Wimbledon to break Roy Emerson’s career mark of 12 major titles. After beating Patrick Rafter in the final, Sampras — tears glistening in his eyes — looked into the stands for his parents, who never before had been present for one of his Grand Slam victories. Reflecting on his successful pursuit of Emerson’s record, which stood since 1967, Sampras said: “Time will tell if it will be broken. I think in the modern game, it could be difficult. It’s a lot of commitment, a lot of good playing at big times.” He wouldn’t win another tournament of any sort for more than two years. The disappointments included early losses to journeymen at the French Open — the lone major he never won — and Wimbledon, and Sampras carried the drought into last year’s US Open. He was seeded just 17th, with barely more wins than losses for the season. And he put together what, in retrospect, was a perfect going away gift to himself and tennis fans. The man he beat in the Open’s third round, 1997 finalist Greg
Rusedski, called Sampras “a step and a half slow” — but Sampras just kept winning. He knocked off 20 somethings Tommy Haas and Roddick while playing five matches in seven days to get to a fairytale final against lifelong rival Andre
Agassi. In what turned out to be Sampras’ last match, he pounded 33 aces to beat Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 and, at 31, become the tournament’s oldest winner since 1970. At the post-match news conference, Sampras alternated between sounding as though he were ready to hang up his racket and ready to get back to work. “I’m going to have to weigh it up in the next couple months to see where I’m at. To beat a rival like Andre, in a storybook ending, it might be nice to stop,” Sampras said at the time. “But,” he added, “I still want to compete, you know? I still love to play.” He has other interests, too, including fatherhood.
Sampras’ wife, actress Bridgette Wilson, had their first child in November. So Sampras exits with perfect bookends: His first major title came with a victory over Agassi in the 1990 US Open final. That made
Sampras, barely 19, the tournament’s youngest champion. A formal farewell at Flushing Meadows seems appropriate. “We certainly look forward to having Pete back at the Open,” said Arlen
Kantarian, the US Tennis Association’s chief executive for professional tennis. “The ceremony will be a special night for Pete, for his family, and for his fans.”
— AP |
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Agassi leads US challenge New York, August 22 Aided largely by the phenomenal Pete Sampras on the men’s side and a host of Americans on the women’s tour, the players from the USA have sucked up 34 Grand Slam singles titles in the last decade alone - 11 at Flushing Meadows. But with reigning men’s champion Sampras all but retired and women’s champion Serena Williams sidelined by injury, home hopes rest on relatively few shoulders this time round. Fortunately for the USA, one set of those shoulders belongs to the evergreen Andre Agassi, at 33 stronger than ever and seeded one at the tournament he has won twice before. Last year it took an inspired Sampras to beat him in the title match and this year Agassi is back and gunning for a ninth Grand Slam. Having triumphed in Australia for a fourth time earlier this year - a record for a man born outside Australia — Agassi proved he still has what it takes on the biggest stages in the sport. He should face little trouble as he opens his campaign next week against new father Alex Corretja in the first round. Spaniard Corretja has been ranked as high as No 2 in the world but he has looked as though his mind is on other things since the birth of his first child, a daughter, in June. Lurking at the bottom of the draw is the main European threat, stylish Swiss Roger Federer. The man billed as the new Pete Sampras will still be flushed by his success at Wimbledon last month - his first Grand Slam crown — and eager to back it up in the USA. Certainly he oozes ability and could well emerge champion at the end of the fortnight.
— Reuters |
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Jonathan Edwards
to retire London, August 22 The reigning Olympic champion, who was planning to quit after next year’s Athens Olympics, confirmed: “I will jump here and that will be the end of it. “I believe it is the right time for me to retire and now I have made this decision I feel very happy with it.”
— AFP |
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JCT overwhelm PSEB Chandigarh, August 22 After PSEB took the lead through Balbir Singh in the 26th minute, Charanjit Kumar restored parity in the 33rd minute. Two minutes later Nigerian striker Stephan Abarowei converted a spot kick to put JCT ahead 2-1. In the 49th minute, Sukhjinder Singh increased the lead to 3-1 for JCT followed by another goal by Charanjit Kumar. Diminutive forward Gyan Moin Thapa’s opportunistic strike in the 70th minute made it 5-1 in favour of JCT before PSEB managed to pull one back through Jasbir Singh in the 75th minute (2-5). Tomorrow, Punjab Police will meet RCF at the PAP Stadium, Jalandhar at 4.30 p.m. |
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Storm over lease of club house Dharamsala, August 22 Mr Sen, till recently, was vice-president of the HPSCA. According to him, the decision of the HPSCA to lease the Club House and 12 corporate boxes for Rs 70 lakh is illegal. He says the stadium land is not owned by the association. It is on lease. Under the rules, the association cannot further sub-lease any portion of the stadium. He said that the matter should be taken up with the state government. While defending the decision to sub-lease the Club House and the corporate boxes, Mr Sanjay Sharma, spokesman for the HPSCA, said the decision was in the interest of the game. He said the sub-lease was for five international matches to be played in the stadium and the money would ensure proper maintenance of the corporate boxes. He said Mr Sen has supported the decision of the HPSCA when he was a part of the association and had only opposed it after leaving it. Due to the efforts of the HPSCA President, Mr Anurag Thakur, a New Delhi industrial house had agreed to lease the corporate boxes for Rs 80 lakh and the amount would be spent on the maintenance of the stadium, he added. The stadium is expected to be completed by the beginning of the next year and five one-day Ranji Trophy matches and Duleep Trophy matches are slated to be played in the state. |
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37th Haryana Gymnastic Championship opened Ambala, August 22 The Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Mr
D.D. Gautam, inaugurated the three-day championship. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gautam said Ambala was the first district in the state to have latest gymnastic equipment. He said gymnastic equipment worth Rs 50 lakh was inaugurated on July 5 this year by the Haryana Olympic Association president Mr Abhay
Chautala. Mr Gautam said the new sports policy was bearing good results. He said the new policy had not only encouraged sportspersons, but had also brought medal winners which was an encouraging sign. He said youngsters should participate in sports as it develops qualities of leadership and team spirit. Haryana Gymnastic Association Joint Secretary, Mr
G.M. Sharma, said 370 persons from all over the state are participating in the championship. He said the three groups in the competition are sub junior, junior and senior. Teams from 13 districts are participating in the championship. The teams which are participating, include Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Sports School
Rai, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jind, Sirsa and
Jhajjar. |
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New Delhi, August 22
